Notes from a beginning gardener with sprinkles of poetry and philosophic musings

Thursday, July 26, 2012

A Blue and White Wildflower Wednesday

July is the perfect time to celebrate native plants in my Midwest garden. Besides the still-blooming coneflowers, there are rudbeckias, liatris, gaillardia, a native agastache, and Joe-Pye Weed all in bloom. Asters and goldenrod are also showing the first signs of color, nearly a month earlier than usual. While all of these would be appropriate candidates for this month's celebration of Wildflower Wednesday, I wanted to focus instead on what is not in my garden. For the past few weeks driving along the country roads and even the highways, I've been distracted by the clouds of blue and white blossoms billowing along the roadsides.

It has been too hot and muggy lately to pull off the roadside and tramp among the weeds, not to mention rather dangerous, but that wasn't necessary to take a photo. All I needed to do was to walk out in my very back yard by the outbuildings and rusty farm implements to find similar images. Clouds of white above . . .

. . . and blue nearby. My favorite color scheme.

Most people would classify chicory, Cichorium intybus, as a weed, but there are very few flowers in the garden that have the true sky-blue color of this plant. Too bad it doesn't have prettier foliage, or gardeners would be adding it to their collection. Chicory has been used as a medicinal herb since the days of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, but most people think of its use in more recent times as a coffee substitute.

Normally, I wouldn't have this proliferation of chicory, but with the drought, we haven't had to mow the lawn for weeks, and this weedy wildflower has added color to the back yard. Notice the brown grass around this plant--don't you wish all our garden plants could survive the lack of rain like this?

The vision of white comes from the native Daucus carota, more commonly known as Queen Anne's Lace. Again, many people think of this as a weed, but it has to be my favorite weed of all and one that I never pull or cut down. In fact, some gardeners purposely plant this in wildlfower gardens, but I don't need to do that--I always have a plentiful supply.

Wild Carrot, as it is also known, has been used in the past as a medicinal herb, and some people have even eaten the root. But wildflower sources caution eating the leaves, which can be confused with the very poisonous wild hemlock. I may not have the wisdom of Socrates, but I don't think I would be tempted to try eating this plant:) While Queen Anne's Lace may have had some useful purposes, I think its main purpose is simply ornamentation.

It has to be one of the most photogenic weeds wildflowers around, whether silhouetted against a weathered shed or growing through a rusty piece of machinery.

It's even attractive and interesting when not in bloom.

Although I wasn't able to capture a photo of either chicory or Queen Anne's Lace with an insect on it, both are attractive to various insects. Black Swallowtail caterpillars also feed on Queen Anne's Lace. Looking closely at the flower head, you can see that it is made up of a compound umbel, which terminates in smaller umbels, called umbellets. A rather complex structure for such a simple, common plant! No wonder I think it's so pretty.

I have been battling the weeds all summer long, but I have a soft spot for these two weedy wildflowers--they are welcome to stay--in my back yard!

For other wildflowers in bloom this very hot July, visit our gracious hostess and best friend of the pollinators, Gail at Clay and Limestone.

30 comments:

Talk about synchronicity (a term I learned in an Arist's Way course many years ago!)--Just two days ago, I made a two hour drive along some small highways in the southern tier of NY state, and really enjoyed the wildflowers along the roadside--mostly queen Anne's Lace and wild chicory! The white and blue is a lovely combination.

We haven't had to mow in ages, either, and there are daisies blooming in my lawn!

You captured a great shot of the pinky color of Queen Anne's Lace unfurling. Normally we notice the wide open white umbels --- they are one of my favorite wildflowers too --- and few realize that they are pink in bud.

This dry hot summer in the northeast has produced a bumper crop of roadside Queen Anne's Lace and they are just stunning everywhere. I love them!

I love the blue of the chicory!! I also like Queen Ann's Lace, got some seeds from Les, though haven't seen them germinate/ grow / or bloom....have them scattered in my meadow across the street. I remember that you wanted Vanilla Spice and got Ruby instead. I hope yours is as fragrant as mine!!

Kimberley, I didn't know how widespread these two wildflowers are; you know then just how pretty they are growing along the roadside. Funny how the grass is nearly dead, but the weeds still manage to survive:)

Laurrie, Glad to know I'm not the only one who loves these plants. I never noticed the flowerheads before they unfurled until a couple of years ago, but I think they're so interesting, too.

Janet, I know that some people purposely plant Queen Anne's Lace, but as you can see I don't need to plant them at all:) I'm happy to report I just noticed the first buds of some blooms on my clethra!

Maggie, I wish I could find the same color of blue in some flowers for my garden--it's my favorite color.

Cassie, These two flowers remind me of my younger days, too. I used to pick Queen Anne's Lace for "bouquets" when I was a girl.

Tina, Yes, it's hard for me to call this one a weed!

Wendy, Summer has been in full swing here for some time. A little too full for my taste--I wish it were about 10 degrees cooler!

Linda, Ordinarily these two, especially the chicory, wouldn't last long, but we haven't had to get out the lawnmower in the past month!

Yes, I noticed, too, that Queen Anne's Lace and Chicory were doing quite well this year. They are beautiful even though most people think of them as weeds. I had heard though, that Queen Anne's Lace isn't native. I thought it was a cultivar of the Carrot family that is native to England. I'll have to do more research. I keep hearing about Joe Pye, and I need to make a place for it in my garden. Beautiful post, Rose!

Queen Anne's Lace is a beautiful 'weed' - I love seeing it around, and I know the butterflies do as well! I also thought that it wasn't native, but it certainly is pretty! I love your photo of the furled seed head! I haven't noticed chicory around here - I'll have to be on the lookout!

Beth, I guess I thought because Queen Anne's Lace has been around for as long as I can remember that it was a native:) I checked my Illinois Wildflower book and my favorite web source and discovered that you are right, it is native to Europe. I must say I prefer this plant to some of the other things we've "imported," such as Japanese beetles:)

Indie, The butterflies and bees do love the wild carrot, though I didn't manage to capture a photo of them. You're right it's not a native, but it's so common here in our state--and apparently others--that I assumed it was.

Rose girl thank you so much for stopping by my blog !I have lagged a great deal when it comes to visiting blogs ..I absolutely agree with you about Chicory and Queen Anne's Lace .. I never think of them as weeds and neither does our little city .. they have seeded them on many parkways and roadsides right here in the city.They are beautiful .. and yes ! Queen Anne's Lace is very complex both in flower and in seed head .. I wanted to seed some here but my plant list is still ahead of me and space is .. hum .. behind me ? LOLGreat post Rose .. I love a gardener standing up for what a lot of others term "weeds" !Joy : )

Hi Rose,Those are two lovely blooms. The man who grew some chicory in his curb area across the street moved a few years ago. Soon after he moved, I went over to see if there were any plants with seeds on them, but didn't find any. This spring, a plant came up in my vegetable garden, which is on side of the yard farthest from where he was growing chicory. I left it there to see what it would do. After awhile, it threw up those lovely blue blooms, and has been blooming every morning for a few weeks. I wonder how many new plants will come up next year. I will eat any extras that come up.

I thought about putting some in the area where I'm putting native plants, but found out it may not be, either. There are different things said about it online. I am including a link here I thought was interesting. If you don't like people leaving links, I won't feel bad if you delete it. http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/chicory.htm

I want QAL to be a native, too, cause I love it so much! My son, the ecologist, and I have conversations about native and what constitutes one at least once at every visit. QAL is hated by farmers, but, loved by many gardeners. gail

Hi Rose, I have been admiring the little blue flowers at the side of the road for a few weeks, but did not know their name. Now I do! I also had no idea that they might be a coffee substitute. My neighbour who has a very relaxed attitude to gardening has a giant patch of Queen's Anne Lace at the corner of her front lawn. While part of me was dreading this seed factory, the other thought it looked kind of pretty. If only Queen's Anne's Lace didn't spread so quickly, it would make a beautiful garden flower.

I learned something new today. I didn't know it was considered a weed. I have always loved it. I don't have any in my yard, but would welcome it if I did. It does appear one must have a lot of room for it because it does seem to spread.

Those two flowers blooming together are one of my favorite memories of summertime in Illinois. I know carrot seed essential oil is great for helping me sleep. I wonder if the wild carrot seed oil would be as effective? Do you know how the QAL got its name?

Dear Rose,The drought continues for our gardens. I do love the way QAL keeps on blooming even in the heat and drought. It is my favorite wildflower...since the Black Swallowtail caterpillars love it I do too!Sherry

Dear Rose,The drought continues for our gardens. I do love the way QAL keeps on blooming even in the heat and drought. It is my favorite wildflower...since the Black Swallowtail caterpillars love it I do too!Sherry

The Chicory really is a lovely colour Rose, so pretty! As you say there are very few sky blue flowers. The Queen Anne's Lace always looks pretty too. It grows freely along lanes and field edges here and is indeed an insect magnet :-)

Chicory has probably be pulled in my Garden with me thinking it is a weed with the sprigly looking stem. I have left what I think to be dandilion and it turned out to be a pretty little flower that the bees enjoy. I should be patient and allow things to mature a bit longer then i do. Then maybe I too could enjoy some chicory in teh garden. Queen Annes Lace have never found its way into my gardens but i so enjoy it along the roadsides...

I love to drive around & see the QAL.I think the Chicory is a beautiful "flower". It would go into my Back Corner Garden as it is Red, White & Blue. I even found a red bowling ball & have it on top of a piece of rebar. That is where I put my blue bottle tree. I just need to clean the Dew Berries out of it, plus the weeds/grass.Let me know if you would like some of the Lily. I would love to send you some when the time is right.

About Me

I am a "late bloomer" when it comes to gardening. Born and raised on a farm, I have returned to my country roots. Recently retired, I am looking forward to being able to do all the things I always wanted to do but never had enough time. That includes gardening, of course!